** Australian gold shares .AXGD rise 3.3% to 13,103.9 points, highest since June 5
** Sub-index set for best day since May 22
** Gold prices climbed to its highest in more than a month and were poised for a weekly gain, as investors sought safe-haven assets due to heightened Middle East tensions GOL/
** Northern Star Resources NST.AX gains 4.7%; ASX shares of Newmont Corporation NEM.N add 5.4%, highest since April 22; Evolution mining EVN.AX rises 5.2%
** NST, NEM, EVN among top gainers on benchmark index .AXJO, along with smaller miners Bellevue Gold BGL.AX, Westgold Resources WGX.AX and Capricorn Metals CMM.AX
** YTD, AXGD jumps 54.6%
(Reporting by Jasmeen Ara Shaikh in Bengaluru)
((JasmeenAraIslam.Shaikh@thomsonreuters.com;))